UK-EU Summit: Sir Keir Starmer to Surrender Fishing Rights in Four-Year Deal

Strategic Insights -

A significant concession is expected from British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as he prepares to agree to a deal with the European Union, guaranteeing European fishing boats access to British waters for at least four years. The compromise is aimed at breaking the deadlock with Brussels as Starmer tries to secure his much-vaunted Brexit reset. The deal would allow British arms manufacturers to sell billions of pounds of weapons to cross-channel allies and cut red tape on food and drink exports to the bloc. However, critics, including former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost, have described the move as "a shameful surrender of fishing communities' rights."

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK is expected to agree to a deal with the EU, granting European fishing boats access to British waters for at least four years.
  • The concession is a significant departure from the UK's original position, which aimed for annual negotiations on fishing quotas.
  • The deal would allow British arms manufacturers to sell billions of pounds of weapons to cross-channel allies.
  • The compromise would also cut red tape on food and drink exports to the EU, easing trade barriers with Brussels.
  • EU member states have long demanded that the UK surrenders fishing rights in a multiple-year deal as the price for any improvements to past Brexit deals.
  • The Labour Government had hoped to negotiate fishing quotas on an annual basis but EU negotiators have dug in hard to secure long-term access.
  • The long-term deal could hamper any future UK effort to help the country's smaller near-shore fishing boats or address overfished areas.

Statistics:

  • The EU is the UK's biggest trading partner, accounting for over 50% of the UK's trade.
  • The current deal on offer from Brussels would see European fishing vessels' quotas remain at 75% of pre-Brexit levels for a further 4 years.
  • The UK-EU summit on May 19 is expected to conclude three agreements: a "Common Understanding" document, a statement on a geopolitical preamble, and a new security and defence partnership.

Sources:

  • The Telegraph
  • EU diplomatic source
  • Mike Cohen, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations
  • Lord Frost, former Brexit negotiator
  • Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister
  • Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission
  • Antonio Costa, president of the European Council